WHAT DOES A MACHINE DESIGN ENGINEER DO?
Reviewed by Lam Nguyen under Editorial Standards
Published: Mar 09, 2026. The Machine Design Engineer leads product design and development activities including 3D modeling, technical documentation, engineering change management, and validation across diverse industries. This role translates customer and performance requirements into manufacturable, cost-effective, and reliable solutions through concept development, feasibility analysis, prototyping, testing, and cross-functional collaboration. The engineer also drives project execution from concept to production readiness while coordinating with suppliers, customers, and internal stakeholders to ensure quality, performance, and on-time delivery.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Machine Design Engineer
1. Machine Design Engineer Duties
- 3D Modeling: Create 3D solid models and coordinate the construction of model shop samples (SLAs)
- Customer Modeling: Create external customer models in the required format
- Technical Drawing: Create suitable manufacturing and customer drawings that follow the Molex Drawing Standard and employ accepted GD and T methodology
- Change Management: Prepare and follow engineering change requests (ECR) per document control procedures
- Failure Analysis: Review the FOT and the test results and engage in failure mode analysis based on a structured approach that leads to product improvement options
- Engineering Support: Support department initiatives by working with other engineers to solve problems in the department and fulfill initiative requests from Engineering Management
- Risk Analysis: Assist in the development of the Design Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) to help eliminate failures from the product
- Tolerance Analysis: Perform tolerance stacks and any relevant design justifications to support risk analysis
2. Machine Design Engineer Details
- Safety Compliance: Work safely by following company policy and using appropriate PPE requirements
- Design Innovation: Develop innovative and manufacturing-friendly design solutions to support new and existing products
- CAD Modeling: Generate 2D and 3D CAD models to align with the company drafting standards
- Prototype Development: Design and create prototypes to demonstrate and verify fit, form and function
- Design Review: Lead design reviews to ensure cross-functional collaboration and success
- Test Validation: Create and execute test plans to validate design concepts
- Test Documentation: Document and peer review test results using test report templates
- Bill Management: Develop and or modify the bill of materials per design intent and certification testing
- Specification Development: Create product specifications that align with customer requirements and the supplier’s capabilities
- Cross Functional Coordination: Communicate and coordinate with cross-functional partners (Product managers, supply chain, suppliers, process development, quality, sales, marketing, finance and IT) to implement product design solutions
- Project Management: Manage engineering projects and timelines through project planning and timely execution of tasks
- Technical Leadership: Lead the technical components of multiple projects while communicating project scope and status updates to leadership through written communication, presentations and the new product development methodology
- Multi-Project Management: Manage multiple projects concurrently while adhering to budget, schedule and scope restraints
- Product Development: Take projects from concept through prototyping and testing to production readiness
3. Machine Design Engineer Responsibilities
- Problem Solving: Day-to-day production problem resolving
- Process Improvement: Improve and simplify ongoing production
- Product Design: Design products by studying customer requirements and performance standards, completing technical studies and preparing cost estimates
- Technical Documentation: Prepare all 2D and 3D documentation required for manufacturing
- Responsibility Planning: Determine project responsibilities by identifying project phases and elements, reviewing bids from contractors
- Performance Testing: Confirm product performance by designing and conducting tests
- Installation Support: Support new installations and field tests
- Schedule Planning: Determine project schedule by studying project plan and specifications, calculating time requirements and sequencing project elements
- Schedule Control: Maintain project schedule by monitoring project progress, coordinating activities and resolving problems
- Plan Control: Control project plan by reviewing design specifications and plan and schedule changes, and recommending actions
- Cost Control: Control project costs by approving expenditures and administering contractor contracts
- Status Reporting: Prepare project status reports by collecting analysing and summarizing information and trends, recommending actions
- Database Management: Maintain project database by writing computer programs, entering and backing up data
- Duty Fulfillment: Perform all duties relating to the position held and additional tasks as directed by the Production Director
4. Machine Design Engineer Accountabilities
- Product Design: Develop designs for new products that are reliable cost effective and easily manufactured
- Feasibility Analysis: Participate in feasibility studies to ensure products are efficient and robust
- Project Assessment: Assess new engineering projects for viability (design limitations, cost concerns, functionality and tradeoffs)
- Technical Presentation: Present these issues to the engineering team along with recommendations for resolution
- Issue Resolution: Proactively identify and resolve engineering and manufacturing-related issues and have a thorough understanding of product manufacturing processes
- Technology Innovation: Provide innovation in the development and implementation of technologies, new ideas, products, processes and techniques
- Design Review: Conduct or participate in design review meetings
- Meeting Documentation: Ensure clear communication of meeting minutes including notes assignments and highlights
- Cost Estimation: Estimate material and fabrication costs for new products and processes
- Cost Management: Execute product and process development to cost targets and communicate cost versus performance conflicts early in the design
5. Machine Design Engineer Functions
- Design Review: Reviewing and advising on the product designs and drawings as provided by customers
- Data Review: Review incoming data with a focus on pre-OKTT data with the Product Engineer and the Tooling Engineer and document concerns and proposals
- Tooling Design: Develop the best part design for tooling and process for production plant manufacturing teams
- CAD Modeling: Create or modify part designs and proposals utilizing Catia
- Design Optimization: Optimize and influence product designs utilizing prototype and pre-production builds mock up trials internal and external customer feedback and communicate achievement of manufacturability functional performance and craftsmanship requirements
- Process Knowledge: Apply solid understanding of injection molding, cutting, sewing, wrapping, interior trim products, processes and tooling
- Best Practice Application: Apply existing knowledge and best practices throughout the product development cycle
- Customer Support: Support the customer base in the greater Detroit, MI area
- Fixture Design: Design and create nesting fixtures, mating component aids including stl files for 3D printer
- Design Presentation: Apply strong design presentation skills to clearly communicate and document design feasibility findings and recommendations to both internal and external customers
- On-Site Support: Support on-site at customers in both designing and or design advising roles
- Tolerance Analysis: Apply and review GD&T and tolerancing (RSS) of parts to meet assembly and manufacturing requirements
- Data Management: Data management including file transfers, downloading, conversion, organizing and storage of 3D CAD and 2D design files (RFQ study files, OKTT and change management)
- Engineering Support: Support advanced engineering launch teams, customer and plant production teams with CAD and design
6. Machine Design Engineer Overview
- Requirement Analysis: Deriving design requirements through identifying and communicating with all project stakeholders
- Design Specification: Producing complex, detailed designs and specifications to meet the requirements
- Prototype Development: Building prototypes in a cost-effective and product derisking manner
- Project Scoping: Specifying the scope of small multi-disciplinary projects to determine resources and time required to complete
- Design Optimization: Refining the design of existing products for performance, manufacturing and cost effectiveness
- Technical Mentoring: Providing technical advice and mentoring to junior engineers
- Site Support: Occasional site visits domestically and internationally to support and validate both new and existing products
- Tooling Development: Developing jigs, fixtures and tooling for multiple applications
- Test Coordination: Plan, organize, direct and follow up on project-related testing activities
- Project Delivery: Ensure delivery of the project activities and interact with Supply Chain Process Engineering, RD Labs and the Northvolt Battery System unit
- Technical Facilitation: Facilitate communication and clarification of technical requirements between customers and Northvolt internal stakeholders
- CAD Development: Develop and review mechanical drawings and models with computer-aided tools
- Design Leadership: Drive and lead internal and external design reviews within the mechanical and structural analysis area and include findings to create better products
7. Machine Design Engineer Details and Accountabilities
- SolidWorks Design: Apply knowledge of engineering principles and regulatory standards to creatively design products using SolidWorks while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the design
- Mechanical Development: Design development and testing regarding all aspects of mechanical components for bath and kitchen products
- Technical Drawing: Develop technical drawings for manufacturing and quality control
- Specification Definition: Define and document product specifications and requirements
- Prototype Testing: Prototype and test functional concepts
- Product Enhancement: Support the existing product with enhancements and customizations
- Drawing Interpretation: Interpret mechanical drawings for products and modifications
- Sales Support: Assist the Waterworks Sales Team by interacting with architects, engineers, installers (general mechanical or plumbing contractors), end users and building and code officials
8. Machine Design Engineer Tasks
- NX Modeling: 3D modeling and drawings using Siemens NX software and implementation of Engineering Changes using Siemens Team Center
- Specification Translation: Translate performance specifications into design specifications for modules and submodules
- Concept Development: Creation and validation of new concepts, steer concept design choice, organize and prepare design reviews
- Design Planning: Give input (design effort) for planning for modules and submodules
- Design Optimization: Optimization of the design with a team of designers
- Solution Planning: Propose a solution and an implementation plan
- Supplier Coordination: Supplier contact for design and drawing reviews on manufacturability (via Supply Quality Engineer)
- Test Validation: Definition and execution of final tests to verify the specifications
- System Integration: Cooperation with module integration into the complex ASML systems
9. Machine Design Engineer Roles
- Development Leadership: Lead development work, problem resolution and design of cab mount components and systems for diesel and zero emission vehicles
- Technical Problem Solving: Analyze and provide creative, technically feasible solutions to problems encountered in validation and production
- Production Support: Promptly resolve plant build issues
- Supplier Interface: Interface with suppliers in the design and development phase, prototype part procurement, production tool build and into series production
- Cross Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with design and manufacturing engineering colleagues, product strategy and marketing to develop products that meet technical and functional specifications as well as cost and efficiency targets
- NX Design: Use the NX CAD system to create and maintain 3D part designs, detailed 2D part and assembly drawings, GD&T packaging studies and installation diagrams
- Validation Support: Work with Product Validation to verify that ride handling and durability of cab mount systems are achieved
- Specification Management: Responsible for the cab mount dynamic component specifications and functional requirements
- Project Prioritization: Prioritize assignments consistent with business goals and successfully implement projects on time and within budget
- Risk Communication: Proactively inform management of project issues, delays and risks
- Analytical Problem Solving: Use analytical thought to independently solve complex problems and identify solutions with minimal guidance
- Continuous Improvement: Participate in the implementation of cross-functional ideas to continuously improve the work environment, systems, tools, processes as well as product cost and quality
10. Machine Design Engineer Additional Details
- Component Modeling: Responsible for the design and detailed modeling of a variety of suite components to meet program requirements
- Cost Optimization: Produce designs to meet specified cost and weight targets
- Design Review: Participate in Design Reviews throughout each phase of the New Product Introduction process
- System Integration: Ensure the successful integration of each design element within the product as a whole
- Package Review: Check engineering packages
- Product Validation: Participate in the validation of the product (using such methods as prototyping, testing and DFMEA)
- Best Practice Development: Follow and contribute to the development of the Best Practice guidelines
- Task Flexibility: Prepare to undertake tasks outside of normal duties as requested by immediate supervisors
- Checklist Preparation: Prepare checklists and layouts
- Assembly Drafting: Prepare structural sub-assemblies and drawings
- Detail Sketching: Prepare sketches for details
- Drawing Review: Review the drawing package to ensure conformance to requirements
- Drawing Submission: Submit completed drawings to the project lead for approval and release
Job Role FAQs
What is a job role?
A job role refers to the duties, responsibilities, and expectations associated with a specific position within an organization. It explains what tasks an employee performs, how they contribute to team objectives, and how their work supports the company’s overall goals.
What are the typical responsibilities of a job role?
Typical job role responsibilities include completing daily tasks, collaborating with team members, making decisions, and meeting performance targets. For example, a software developer may write code, fix bugs, review pull requests, and collaborate with product teams.
What is the difference between a job role and a job title?
A job title is the official name of a position, such as Marketing Manager or Software Engineer. A job role describes the actual duties, responsibilities, and expectations associated with that position.
Why are clearly defined job roles important?
Clearly defined job roles help organizations improve productivity, reduce workplace confusion, and ensure accountability. When employees understand their responsibilities and expectations, teams can collaborate more effectively.
How do job roles support career development?
Understanding different job roles helps professionals identify career paths and the skills required for advancement. By learning the expectations of various roles, individuals can build relevant skills and plan long-term career growth.
Editorial Process
Lamwork content is developed through structured review of publicly available job postings and documented hiring trends.
Editorial operations are managed by Thanh Huyen, Managing Editor, with research direction and final oversight by Lam Nguyen, Founder & Editorial Lead. Content is periodically reviewed to reflect observable labor market changes.